Short stories

Cold Revenge

I'd finally found her.

The most powerful and feared woman in the world was standing across the room from me.

Her back was turned on me as she stood facing out the window on the opposite end of the room, staring into the night sky.

I'd come to finish her.

She'd wrecked havoc all over the world: burning villages, causing plagues, and enslaving copious amounts of helpless people.

I was well hidden in the shadows of the enormous bedroom. No one with a wish to live would ever be found this close to her.

I stepped slowly and cautiously, I'd been training my whole life for this moment. Ever since she killed my family at the tender age of seven I vowed to be the one that brought her to an end.

I was five feet away from her when she said, "Davian, it's seems we have company."

A bird, a raven of sorts, landed on her shoulder.

My blood ran stone cold.

She slowly turned to face me, "Davian, fetch us some tea please. We wouldn't want our guest to be thirsty now, would we?" She smiled.

The bird then left the room and we were left alone.

"Please, have a seat." She motioned to a pair of comfortable looking chairs.

I obeyed. Fear ran throughout my body. My life's mission would fail if I made one false move.

Or if she decided to kill me then and there.

Whichever came first.

"So what brings you here to my humble abode?" She asked, her sickly smile never leaving her face.

In truth, her home was not, in any aspect, humble. It was actually an abandoned castle that had been restored by her many many slaves. Grand marble fixtures, and extremely detailed wooden furniture flooded the extravagant palace. It was kept in its immaculate condition by the hundreds of slaves she had. It was so large that she could have easily housed 100 families comfortably.

I was too frightened to speak.

"Don't be shy. I won't bite." She smirked, knowing that the last part of her statement was untrue.

Her bird, Davian, had returned. A silver platter balanced atop his head. How he managed to fly, balance, and carry the tea here within 5 minutes was beyond me.

"Thank you so much, Davian" she took the platter and placed it on the small table between us. Then she began to pour out two cups of tea.

It smelled divine, but I had no intention on drinking it. She'd probably poisoned it.

She lifted her cup and took a sip. Her bird landed in her shoulder and seemed intent on staying there.

"Why don't you drink?" She asked.

I stayed silent.

"Don't let it go to waste now."

She stopped mid-sip with a face of mock realization.

"You think I've poisoned it, don't you? Oh my. I feel offended."  She chuckled to herself then said, "You never told me why you graced me with your presence."

I decided that it was now it never.

I took a deep breath, reached behind my back and grasped the hilt of my dagger, then began, "Well, I've come to discuss a very urgent matter."

She looked mildly shocked at the fact that I had spoken, "So the creature isn't a mute. I must say, you had me curious!" She reached her hand up to pet her bird that still rested on her shoulder.

"Go on then, what's so urgent that you came all this way to see little old me?"

I made a swift movement with my dagger and just like I'd practiced a thousand times before with the tree in my backyard, I threw the dagger and it sunk into her chest.

Davian squawked in surprise and flew out the open widow. She gasped, her expression pure shock. Then she drooped forward and stayed still.

I answered her question, "I came to discuss the matter of your death."

I couldn't believe it.

I done it! I'd  killed her! No more living in fear anymore! She was gone!

I ran to free all the people she held captive.

I arrived at the slaves quarters. A place that used to be a pigsty, and shouted loud enough for the whole world to hear, "She's dead! You're free!"

They all froze. Then they turned to me with solemn faces.

"What? You're free! You can go!"

An old man, maybe in his early seventies, shook his head, "No, not another one."

Then I heard it.

Footsteps, all too horrible and all too familiar.

I turned around and I saw something that came straight out of my worst nightmares.

"Was that supposed to hurt?" She asked, pulling the dagger out of her chest. A horrific grin stretched across her face. "Do you want to know where all these people come from, young man?"

I closed my eyes as I felt the world crash down around me.

She answered, "They come from people like you. Those who seek to eradicate my life." She placed a cold hand to my chest.

"But they come to find out that..."

"I'm already dead."